Organization 101

By E.W., 12/11/2012

It’s often said a well-organized workspace can be a more productive workspace. As the year comes to a close, people often take time to prepare for the new year—getting organized is a great way to accomplish this.

Reducing clutter is often a good first step. What have you been keeping you might no longer need? Look for supplies that don’t work or lingering sticky notes you might no longer need. Desk organizers are also helpful, either for paper and files on top of your desk or supplies inside. Decreasing clutter will help you maximize the (sometimes limited) space you have and leave you feeling more organized.

Utilize technology. Consolidating your calendar and contacts in your email system is a healthy way to keep all of your important information in one place. You can even track to-do lists or important notes. If you’re anything like me, paper to-do lists are ever-present, but utilizing these tools as a back-up is always helpful, especially when tracking longer term projects.

Finally, keep on top of your to-do list. Part of being organized is not letting your work pile up and get out of control in the first place. I often utilize the calendar reminder feature for keeping track of time sensitive tasks or tasks further out in the future that may disappear from the to-do list over time.